THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

NPF Announces ESPN Playoff TV Deal. Intros Finch, Wately, Bustos, Freed, Jung

Posted on May 25, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. From Julie Meyer, National Pro Fastpitch, Chicago. May 25, 2005: National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF) President/CEO Bill Conroy and six league players, including five Olympic gold medalists gathered Tuesday in Chicago for a press conference to announce plans for the 2005 season which kicks off June 2. Among the announcements are six teams in the league, inclusion of star-powered athletes including 11 Olympic gold medalists, expanded television coverage on ESPN-TV, and ESPN2 and an aggressive game schedule that includes international competition. NY Juggernaut schedule is available online at www.nynjjuggernaut.com

Players present at Tuesday’s news conference in Chicago, included left to right, Crystl Bustos (Akron Racers),Lovieanne Jung (Arizona Heat), Lovieanne Jung (Arizona Heat), Jennie Finch (Comcast Chicago Bandits), League President Bill Conroy, Amanda Freed (Texas Thunder) Leigh Ann Ellis (New England Riptide), and Natasha Watley (NY Juggernaut). Photo, Courtesy, National Pro Fastpitch, by Evan J. Thomas.

Olympian Super Pitcher, Jennie Finch, Comcast Chicago Bandits Twirler, said, “It’s exciting to be part of the NPF and have the opportunity to play at the professional level and showcase our skills as softball players, I am excited to be part of the NPF and look forward to a successful season.” Photo, Courtesy National Pro Fastpitch by Evan J. Thomas

The 2005 season marks the first year the NPF League is under new ownership, which consists of an operating group of individual team owners led by Conroy. The NPF League kicks off the 2005 season with six teams: Akron Racers, Arizona Heat, New England Riptide, NY/NJ Juggernaut and Texas Thunder. The Comcast Chicago Bandits, owned by Conroy, are an expansion team that captured national attention earlier this year with the signing of Olympic gold medalists Jennie Finch, Leah O’Brien-Amico, alternate Jamie Clark and Canadian Olympic pitcher Lauren Bay.

“The talent of the female athletes in the league combined with the strength of the teams, expanded TV coverage and a competitive schedule with international play marks an exciting time for women’s professional softball,” NPF President/CEO Bill Conroy said. “The 2005 season will focus on building game attendance, sponsorships and attracting potential team owners to the NPF.”

Returning teams include the NY/NJ Juggernauts who captured the first NPF Championship Series last year with a 10-1 win over the New England Riptide. The California Sunbirds will play a limited schedule in 2005 with plans to fully participate in the league again in 2006.

Here They Come.

In addition to a 48-game regular season schedule, the NPF will also compete against the Australian, Canadian, Chinese, Russian and Venezuelan National teams. NPF has also opened the pool of opponents to include potential teams and owners in 2006 and beyond. The nationally recognized Stratford Brakettes already announced their plans to join the NPF in 2006. Additional teams include the Phoenix Flames, SoCal Schutt Hurricanes, Peoria Outlaws, Illinois Cougars, St. Louis Saints and the Long Island Angels.

The ESPN Boys Weigh In.

The NPF has negotiated a deal with ESPN/ESPN2 to televise the Playoffs and Championships (August 27–28). Individual teams have the rights to negotiate their own television and radio deals. The NY/NJ Juggernauts announced a deal with Regional News Network and the Chicago Bandits with Comcast to each broadcast 8 games.

NPF teams will be playing home games at premium softball facilities, many of which have been upgraded for the 2005 season. Teams showcasing new facilities include the Comcast Chicago Bandits (Benedictine Sports Complex) the NY/NJ Juggernauts (Hofstra University) and Texas Thunder (Big League Dreams Sports Park). Tickets are available now for the season and start at under $10 for individual games.

NPF players reported to spring training this week and the season kicks off June 2, with the exception of the Arizona Heat who begin their season on Thursday. For more information on the NPF, visit www.profastpitch.com.

Innovative Young Artist’s Productions Showcases Under-20s in Les Mis at WBT

Posted on May 24, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Allan Gruet, WBT. May 25, 2005: The Westchester Broadway Theatre, in Elmsford, is presenting the first show in its new series of Young Artist’s Productions, with 3 performances of Les Miserables on Saturday, June 11, Wednesday, June 15 and Saturday, June 18. The talented cast of actors, all under the age of twenty, have been selected from over 200 hopefuls who auditioned for this inaugural production of the Westchester Broadway Theatre’s newest program aimed at promoting live theatre for the Tri-state area’s younger performers.

Bob Funking and Bill Stutler, founders of WBT (Westchester Broadway Theatre) Westchester’s Most Innovative Producers, entertaining Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. Westchester for 30 years, are launching Young Artist’s Productions this summer, casted exclusively with young talent under 20 years of age. The premier production features Les Miserables. The two veteran empressarios talk about the concept.Photo, WPCNR Showbiz Archives

The Young Artist’s Productions Series gives these talented performers the opportunity to appear in full-scale productions of great Broadway musicals, with full production values made possible by performing at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, New York’s longest-running, year round professional theatre.

WBT Producer, Bill Stutler, explained that the program came about because of the consistent turnout of wonderfully talented young performers every time the theatre would hold local auditions for one of its up-coming shows.

“I never stop being surprised at the range of talent we see among the younger actors,” he explained. “Whenever we audition for a show that has younger kids or teens in the cast, we always have a huge turnout of very, very talented young people. The problem is that, in most cases, we can only use a fairly small number of them in the show.”

Bill Stutler’s partner and co-producer Robert Funking agrees, adding, “It’s really frustrating to see all this talent and not be able to use them. Sometimes, like with our current production of “Oliver” we can use more… eighteen, in fact, but most of the Broadway musicals just don’t have that many roles for kids and teens, so what can you do?”

What Bill & Bob have done is introduce their new Young Artist’s Productions Series to tackle that very problem. The shows are cast completely with actors nineteen or younger, and they will feature performers as young as six and eight years old, when appropriate. The productions are being done to exacting professional standards, from the auditions, through the rehearsals and right up to the performances. All cast members are expected to perform under these standards.

“For some of these actors it’s a bit of an adjustment,” said Les Miserables Director, John Fanelli. “Most of these kids, even the more experienced ones, haven’t had the chance to work in an Equity production or a fully professional facility like WBT. They need to learn that the attitude has to be different from their high school plays or local community theatre group. That doesn’t mean its all ‘noses to the grindstone’ during the four week rehearsal period. There’s still the unmistakable air of fun and excitement that comes from a group of talented kids doing what they love to do.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Fanelli adds, “yes, it’s hard work, but they’re having a great time working like this, and there’s a wonderful camaraderie that has developed among them from knowing that they are all taking a ‘step up’ in their love of theatre by doing this show at Westchester Broadway … and it’s showing in their performances.”

Performances of this inaugural production of the Young Artist’s Series have been scheduled for a show-only matinee, Saturday, June 11, a dinner & show evening performance Wednesday, June 15 and a final show-only matinee Saturday, June 18.

“The 3-performance schedule may change,” says Producer Stutler. “These young actors are the next generation of great performers in our area, and we want as many of our audience members as possible to see them getting their start right here. The reservations are coming in, and we’ll add more performances if necessary.”

Co-owner Bob Funking agrees. “This is a very exciting new program for theatre in Westchester, and we don’t want anyone to miss out on the chance to enjoy tomorrow’s great actors today!”

YOUNG ARTIST’S PRODUCTIONS

“LES MISERABLES” (The School Edition)

Saturday Matinee, June 11& 18 performances are @ 1pm

Wednesday Evening June 15 – Served Dinner @ 6pm – Show @ 8pm

Call Box Office (914) 592-2222 for Information & Ticket Prices

City Wins Traffic Safety Award from the ITE.

Posted on May 24, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From David Maloney, The Mayor’s Office. May 25, 2005:

The Institute of Transportation Engineers, Inc. (ITE) announced that the City of White Plains has received the 2005 Edmund R. Ricker Traffic Safety Award for an agency. The award is given to an agency/organization that has provided exemplary support for traffic safety and awareness through financial support, resource allocation, public relations, or other means.

“It is an honor to receive this award from the ITE. As a recent story in the New York Times noted, the City of White Plains allocates more resources to studying, monitoring, and improving traffic conditions in our community than most of the other communities in Westchester County combined. This award sends a clear signal that we are not only managing our growth effectively, but that we are becoming the standard bearer for traffic safety in Westchester County”, stated Mayor Delfino.

The City of White Plains will be presented with the award at an upcoming ITE Conference in summer 2005.

Comprehensive Plan Committee to have Recommendations Ready June 7

Posted on May 24, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR. May 24, 2005: The Comprehensive Plan Committee met this evening and discussed a wide range of topics, including where urban renewal would start, the Lexington Avenue Corridor, revitalization of West Post Road, New York Presbyterian Hospital. It was the sense of our correspondent that the Committee is on target to present its recommendations on how the city will grow into the future June 7.